Shaun Edwards has admitted he nearly walked away from the game after being
snubbed for the British Lions tour this summer.

Edwards, Wales's defence coach, was tipped to be named as part of Warren Gatland's Lions coaching team for the tour of Australia, especially as the two have worked so closely with Wales.

However, the former Wigan rugby league star was looked over in favour of his England counterpart Andy Farrell.

Prior to last weekend's Six Nations title decider, many wouldn't have argued with Gatland's choice, with England one win away from achieving a Grand Slam and Farrell a key part in the Red Rose resurgence.

Edwards, though, was hurt by his omission and could afford a wry smile after witnessing his Wales side demolish England's defence during Saturday's 30-3 victory at the Millennium Stadium.

He told The Guardian: "I've had plenty of highs in my professional life - 42 medals as a player, 11 trophies in 12 years as a coach - but the time that tested me most was the three days after discovering that I wasn't going to be part of the Lions coaching squad this summer.

"Whereas 2009 with the Lions in South Africa was one of the big highs, hearing that I was not going to be part of the set-up in Australia made me want to chuck the whole lot in.

"There were ideas of turning my back on union, going back to league, possibly even leaving the country to re-learn my trade as an assistant coach with the ARL.

"As I say, it took me 72 hours to banish those ideas and, on Saturday, among the Welsh players and fellow coaching staff, I understood why I did. They've been great to me, treating me as one of their own and it's a lucky man who can be part of such a set-up."